Learning to swim as an adult

I take it from your post that you are now getting one on one lessons? From my experience the best place for the instructor to be is on the side of the pool and not in it. It just takes you out of your comfort zone and I think that is a really important part of learning to swim.

I didn't get that from his post at all! I really hope that's not the case because if he is paying for one on one lessons the instructor should be in the pool with him. You'll learn faster by having things explained to you & been shown what to do properly & not waste your money. If this is the case find a new instructor!!

colly3 wrote: »

Thanks for the jee up there GG. I know I will get there eventually, I really, really want to learn and become a confident swimmer, regardless of how long it takes me.

Burkatron... I'm afraid your worst fears have been realised, yes, it was one to one lesson. Mainly due to my fear of drowning or worse!! I had hoped the guy would have been in the pool but to be honest, I didn't know what the "right" or "wrong" process is.

This really grinds my gears TBH, you're paying good money & the snake is ripping you off! I deal with guys like this where I work, it pays off as his customers eventually come to me & learn more in 1 lesson with me then they do in 10 with him for the same price!

Well I got stood up tonight... he was called away to another pool, didn't find out until I was in the pool but I'm not complaining,

Ah classic, defo time to find someone else!

I brought my 16 and 10 year olds (I think they secretly thought I was going skiving or something and wanted to check up on me)

Anyway, all was not lost, my 16 year old daughter took the spongy board from me, gave me a tube thingy similar to what I have lagged water pipes with!! and boy!!, what a difference. She had me doing lengths of the pool, end to end and as the clock ticked by I could feel my confidence growing. Now I probably looked a sight but I really don't care because I was actually moving and not a panic attack or fear of mortal danger in within a 5 mile radius!!

That is great news!! The bolded but is how you should feel in the water so you made massive progress!!


I found the tube less restrictive than the board and when I tried going backwards, I was fit to explode with excitement because when my stand in "coach" saw this, she helped me to float... OK it was a temporary thing but at least I know it's possible now and that in itself is a confidence builder for me.

I realise both my legs and arms are weak, I have nowhere near enough strength to sustain my new found aquatic freedom, so I am going to have to work on this problem.

I really doubt this is the case, you don't need strength to swim! It's all about technique & relaxation! This will come!

I also need to learn to breath properly and my leg / arm coordination is shocking, for someone who can normally juggle half a dozen tasks at a time, I am finding it next to impossible to breath and keep coordination in tune.

Again, this will all come in time, it's a step by step process & believe me you're on the right course!

Hey ho, I feel great after tonight, we had 2 hrs in the pool and it flew by. Have booked another lesson for tomorrow night so fingers crossed... will give you a (shorter) update then.

I hope this is with your daughter & not that clown you were working with before, don't waste your money!

Burkatron, could I please ask what general area you are in? I may be jumping to conclusions here (?) but reading through all your hugely informative posts, I assume you are an instructor? I'm not expecting miracles but no harm to have a plan B should the need arise!!

Thanks guys.

Nope, you're right,it's one of my 3 jobs!! I work in a pool in Navan Monday to Fridays & Portmarnock on weekends. Where abouts are you based & myself or 1 of the other guys will be able to help you or put you in contact with someone that can! Waaay past my bed time!! Well done on your progress! You wont know yourself in a few weeks!!

Rowanvella199 wrote: »

Get onto the iws they are the best instructors and will have anyone swimming in a couple weeks/months garaunteed!

Nothing against IWS I'm a member myself but this is a biggest bs I've heard about swimming instructors ever.

Its not about the programme you were tutored in but your experience, personality, patience, ability to recognize and address tiny little errors in movement (and believe it or not there is a lot of them and some of them are very individual and unique), being open minded enough to adapt technology like cameras or mirrors and most of all, people you work with that you can learn from and other resources available to us thanks to an internet and SI that allow us to improve our knowledge about swimming what makes one a great swimming instructor, not a few weeks long swimming instructor course.

I will back up Burkatron here with my both hands. If you are a beginner and your instructor during 1-1 session refuse to get into the water with you (you don't have to request this, if he can't see the fact that you are terrified or doesn't have enough empathy and common sense to get into the water with you seeing this he should start looking for a different job) then seriously consider finding a different instructor.

I always do my 1-1 classes in the water and here is why:
1) Demonstration, I can demonstrate the skill exactly the way it is being used in swimming (sure you can try to do it from the bank but you can only try to adapt this movement to a completely different environment)
2) Safety and comfort, an instructor on the bank can always jump in or pass you a reaching pole, but it takes time, seconds only but during those seconds, your confidence go down so much that some people don't come back to swimming lessons after being picked up by a swimming instructor or a lifeguard from the pool. Imagine yourself you are going back home after something like that and your wife asks you how did the lesson go, and you are: great, dude had to jump in, in his clothes to save my life, swimming is so much fun I'm telling you... non of these happens while an instructor is already in the water with you, he can save your life 10 times during the lesson and you won't even know he had to, you will know that something was wrong but you don't have to experience a trauma of those few long seconds when you are awaiting for rescue, to learn how to do it properly.
3) Manual assist, with hands on technique I'm not only able to support your body in the water but also correct movement patterns and position of individual parts of your body, witch on the end of the day results in much better swimming technique.
4) In swimming it doesn't matter what you do above the water but under, and to clearly see what is happening underwater you have to put your head underwater as well (you can also use camera but there is a lot of restriction in their use in Ireland) so from the bank I will be missing on a lot of details that are very important for swimming technique.
5) Communication, I'm a nice person and I don't like to yell at people, while on the bank I have no other option. Plus every time we talk when I'm teaching from the bank I'm above you no matter how tall you are, I'm not sure how much psychological impact this might have for your ability to express your concerns, or opinions but it certainly has some. This dialogue is quite important, as it makes you think more, of what you are doing and it gives me the feedback on areas that needs to be addressed more from your point of view (and yes your own feelings and your point of view IS important, after all you know your body and mind way much better then anyone else except your gp and your shrink, if you have one)
6) Last but not least I simply love swimming so I enjoy being in the water with you much more then watching you from the bank, last one can sound a bit selfish but trust me you don't want to have a teacher without a passion for his job, or even passionate one being frustrated about it for numerous different reasons.

As you can see there is a few things missing when your instructor is on the bank. On the end of the day it should be your call, if you prefer your instructor to stay on the bank, trust me it can be organized, but it should be an option, a wrong one in my opinion, not the way it goes.

The only advantage of an instructor being on the bank (in my opinion) can be seen during group lessons, as it helps to discipline children and supervise them, having this said I have to mention that a lot of schools are hiring additional water teacher so he can be in the water while second teacher is on the bank. Very powerful combination of both ways. If you can see another teacher in the water durring your child swimming lessons it is a good sign that you are in good hands. If not, suggest this to the swim coordinator, if enough people will ask for it there is a chance they will find an extra 9 euro for an assistant teacher.
Another solution that I'm testing at the moment is something similar to parent and toddler class for older children, works really well, as parents are giving 1-1 supervision and instruction and teacher does all demonstration and works with parents and children together.
If you are a swimming instructor and want to discuss this further or if you are working for a big company and you don't have an opportunity to discuss and test innovative ideas email me at kris@swimming.ie and I might be able to help

capefear wrote: »

Hi Guys
Roughly how much would you expect to pay for one on one swimming lessons in dublin city or south side. I can do sessions any time during the day, morning, day time evening time. As I always wanted to swim and its now time to do this. Thanks also for everyone for posting there stories as it was good to read im not alone in my fears.

well done to all.

Its between 50/60 euro....It would be cheaper to get a group session of lessons with others like yourself....If your in Dublin I'd recommend you email the email above your post.....

I think in one of Ben Dunnes Gym it was 30 a half hour....As you said they are copping on and dropping prices....Good news for new beginners...